[fatnotlazy]

I don't know where you are, but most of the malls closer to Pittsburgh aren't doing well. They're becoming gangsta hangouts. Part of the problem is the availability of public transportation. I appreciate having bus service to these malls since I don't drive, but public transit also makes it easy for the thugs and lowlifes to infest these malls. People hear of brawls, such as the recent one at Monroeville Mall, or robbery/assaults, such as a recent incident at South Hills Village, and they become reluctant to shop in these malls.

Malls further away from the city, such as those in outlying counties have few or no public transportation options. These malls are flourishing.

Malls had better invest in better security. It's no longer enough to have a handful of security guards around. I think at some point, malls are going to have to adopt some TSA-style measures such as scanners and metal detectors. Sure, those procedures aren't fun, but malls are no longer safe, and if the malls want to stay in business, they are going to have to make some safety improvements to attract and keep shoppers.

[knarf]

I stay away from Pissburgh

I'm in Washington county (NOT WARSHINGTON) .. and if you get to the corner of 70 and 79 ... almost as far as the eye can see (just a little bit exaggerated) .. there is wall to wall mall.